Sankar in Knight Hall.
Photo by Joe Angeles
Sankar makes the most of her WashU experience
Everyone at Washington University seems to know Olin Business School student Khalyani Sankar. During her time here, she has remained a prominent student voice, bridging many facets of the campus community through her leadership and involvement.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Sankar fell in love with St. Louis the summer before her senior year of high school, when she attended Washington University’s High School Summer Experiences Program. She loved the feel of the campus and immediate sense of community. Upon deciding to pursue an undergraduate business degree, WashU was the clear choice.
At Olin Business School, Sankar found her niche in the space where business and social impact meet. During her first two summers as an undergraduate, she interned at microfinance nonprofit organizations, assisting clients with small business development, crafting donor impact reports and conducting research on strategic future partnerships. The summer after her junior year, she interned as a merchandise planning analyst at Target, where she further developed her professional skill set.
At Olin, Sankar’s engagement extended well beyond the classroom. She was an avid team participant of Arch Consulting, a founding member of Washington University’s chapter of Phi Gamma Nu and an ambassador for the Olin Study Abroad Programs office.
Through a partnership between Olin and ESCP Europe, Sankar, who is a French minor, studied abroad in Paris this past spring.
Sankar’s involvement extended further within the WashU community. During her sophomore year, she was elected as speaker for the Congress of the South 40, an experience that shaped her entire time here. “It was a great way for me to engage with the WashU community, especially on the South 40, home to nearly 3,300 students.” Sankar’s leadership assumed many forms, including overseeing the logistics of large programs, coordinating community events and serving as a liaison between students, campus organizations and university administration.
Looking forward to the future, Sankar recently signed an offer to join McKinsey & Co. as a consultant in its Minneapolis office. She is excited to be a part of a large consulting firm, and for the chance to work on projects across various industries and sectors before attending graduate school a few years down the road.